The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-07-07
The Czar's Projection.

The country house inhabited by the
AutOcrat of All the Russias is nothing
more nor less than a fortress surround
ed by meats, with a strong garrison,
and situated in the midst of an immense
camp, in which countless detatchments
of soldiers, horse, foot artillery, and
even engineers, are quartered. Yet
even here the life of the sovereign is eX-
posed to various perilS, chief among
which is the notorious disaffectiOn of
portions of his vast army. The time
was when the Gar could at least reckon
on the fidelity of his troops, and ON the
blind and unreasonable devotion of the
liberated serfs. Now all is changed.
1t is acknowledged that the revolution
airy movement has spread with appal-
ling rapidity, and even to classes which
had always been regarded as trust
worthy.
Meanwhile, however, Alexander Ill.
has no alternative but to make the best
of the situation. Picked soldiers guard
him day and night at Gatchina, and
the strictest discipline pervails in
the fortress castle. A writer who a
short time ago had the rare privilege
of an introduction to the presence of
the CZaTina, gives a graphic account
of his visit, and of the precautions
taken to prevent any mishap. Travel
ing from st. Petersburg to Gatchina in
company with General Ignatieff and
General Baumgarten, one of the En-
peror'S aideS-de-camp, he noticed all
along the route small detatchmentS OF
engineers encamped iE the open air at
short intervals from each other. Cos
sacks, mounted on their small horses,
galloped about in every direction.
/ 1Nbo fu vxyora fatoha6 at the CfatiOO
by one of the imperial carriages, which
started off at full speed, and, after
crossing a bridge, strongly guarded
arrived at a huge gateway, at which
the writer and companions had to show
their papers. Thence they were con-
Quoted to wing of the palace, where
| the same ceremonial was gone through
after which they were taken through a
perfect labyrinth of passages and stair
cases to rooms reserved for them. The
writer was asked if he would have
luncheon or tea, and was left to him.
self until the hour appointed for his
audience. at noon General Baumgar-
ten came to fetch him.
On his way to the central building he
| saw the steps crowded with sentrieS.
i who in turn presented arms with such
/ a din that he ShreWdly suspected that
| the noise was intended to warn theiI
/ comrades farther on Oh the ARRIVAL OF
a stranger. Next large hall, in which
one hundred soldiers of the Guard were
on duty, was traversed. At the further
and the visitor had again to exhibit
his papers, and after ascending mag
nificent staircase and crossing a hal
in which gigantic Moor in superb cos
tune, and two huge Tcherkesses, arm
ed to the teeth with dirks and pistols
were stationed. he was introduced by {
man servant into small but elegant
drawing-roOm, whence he passed, under
the conduct of one of the gentlemen OF
service, into the Empress reception
room. After half an hours converse
ton, in course of which her Majesty
remarked that there were some yer,
impious men in Russia, the write
Withdrew, but ere he took leave of Gen
eral Baumgarten the latter, referring
to the frankness with which he hat
spoken, told him that no Russian
would have dared to give advice to tn,
Czarina, jokingly adding: Take care
You may be sent to Siberia" Wha
can be more characteristic than at hi
rapprochement of the aides-de-camp'
grim jest about Siberia and the pre-
caution taken by the sovereign to aver
all danger from himself and his family
/ LONDON TELEGRAPH.